By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Deshaun Watson didn’t begin the season as the Houston Texans‘ starter, and he didn’t end it as the starter. But he made the most of his opportunities in between.
Watson won Courtyard’s Greatness on the Road Award during Saturday’s NFL Honors for perhaps his most thrilling performance of his injury-shortened rookie season. Surprisingly, his efforts came in a loss, but it was an incredibly entertaining way to take an L. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Well, well, what do we have here?
So much for that Steelers-Patriots rematch. Jacksonville rolled into Pittsburgh, punched the Steeelers in the mouth and managed to dance around the ring long enough to emerge victorious. The method wasn’t surprising, but the outcome was. The Jaguars opened the contest with an emphatic touchdown drive, forced a turnover and scored again, and even returned a strip-sack fumble for a touchdown. Pittsburgh — both the Steelers and their fans — barely knew what hit them by halftime.
Two key contributors from that upset find themselves in this space this week, and for the first time in a long time, we also welcome a player who’s currently trying to wash the bitter taste of defeat out of his mouth. Divisional Weekend was just as wonderful as we expected (except for Patriots-Titans).
Here are your greatest on the road from Divisional Weekend. Say it with me now: DUUUUUVAALLLLL!!
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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We’ve done it. Pat yourselves on the backs. We’ve reached the end of another regular season.
Week 17 brought a stark contrast in games. Some — Dallas 6, Philadelphia 0, for example — meant little, while others came down to the wire and determined postseason fates of multiple teams. Road squads closed the regular season slate by going 6-10 in Week 17.
Let’s get right to it. These are your greatest on the road from Week 17. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Merry Christmas!
I didn’t get you that expensive watch you wanted, but only because I think Le’Veon Bell has you covered. What I do have for you, however, is a nice little trio of excellence.
For the first time this season, we have a back-to-back winner. That winner is also building himself quite the case for MVP.
Here are your greatest on the road from Week 16: Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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We’re at the point in the season in which it doesn’t need to be explained anymore: Road games are tough to win.
In Week 15’s first 15 contests, visiting teams went 6-9. The biggest wins of the day went to the road teams, though, with New England upending Pittsburgh in a clash of AFC titans and Los Angeles detonating Seattle in a changing-of-the-guard victory. The few, but mighty, these road squads are.
Atlanta stands a pretty good chance of bringing that record to 7-9 when it faces Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football. The Saints went 7-9 in three straight seasons (2014-2016), and look at them now. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Could it — could it be true?
Nope. After the tease of first glance, it’s business as usual.
Road teams went 6-9 in the first 15 games of Week 14, with Monday night’s tilt between the Patriots and Dolphins still to be played. New England can’t bring the visitors’ delegation to .500 this week, but it can bring it to the optimistic 7-9. I mean, the 2001 Browns finished 7-9 and the next year, they made the playoffs.
They haven’t been back since. Let’s hope for better futures for road squads than that. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Minnesota Vikings are a runaway train to the land of milk and honey. Don’t get in their way, unless you want to fall victim to the cowcatcher’s unmerciful plow into the glorious future.
OK, that might be a little hyperbolic. But the Vikings are very, very good. Sunday was the latest example of their ever-increasing supremacy in the NFC — and after the Eagles‘ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday night, guess who’s tied for the top seed in the conference.
Yep — the guys in purple!! Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Home is where the heart is, where Thanksgiving is held and where teams secure wins. This was all true in Week 12.
Road teams went 6-10 for the week. Of those road victories, two came on Thanksgiving. Two more came by six points or less. Unlike your Thursday spread, the pickings here are fairly slim.
You might still have some leftovers to polish off in the next day, so grab a microwaved plate of your favorites (mine is my aunt’s green bean casserole, which was delicious yet again) and take in these extra treats.
These are your greatest on the road from Week 12. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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In the NFL, road teams are already fighting the disadvantage of playing away from home. Long flights, bus rides and unfamiliar lodging isn’t exactly friendly. But in Week 11, we added a new wrinkle: We went south of the United States border. Oh, and we raised the elevation beyond 7,000 feet. Thin air, thinner mattresses? We can’t confirm the latter.
But what we can confirm is how quickly the Patriots cast aside any concerns about the aforementioned factors. Who cared about elevation and passports? New England had a job to do, and a game to win.
Thanks to one small-yet-giant receiver, they took care of business in resounding fashion. But we’re just getting started at Estadio Azteca. Here are your greatest on the road from Week 11. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It always seems like it’s been a rough week for the road teams when I tally up the wins, but surprisingly, through the first 13 games of this week, we’re one off from an even record at 6-7 with Monday Night Football yet to be played. So where do we find our stars this week?
The first one is a tandem effort to remember, which took place in western New York. But stick around for the other two, because they’re coming from some less-heralded individuals. These honors aren’t moths; road greatness can be achieved far from the warm, enticing glow of the spotlight, too. Continue reading
Nick Shook 